Excursion trip Armenia+Georgia - 8 days

Armenia and Georgia are 2 christian countries with amazing people who honor their own history and national traditions.

Sightseeing tour to Armenia and Georgia will give you an opportunity to get acquainted with the ancient culture, national traditions of the Caucasus, you will amazed with beautiful nature, try delicious dishes and taste traditional noble wines and cognacs.

Just choose excursion tour to Armenia and Georgia and we will do our best to make your trip comfortable with excellent mood. Travel with Explorearmenia to meet new exciting adventures and get unforgettable emotions for life.

Prices on excursion trip to Armenia+Georgia 2017 (price per person)

We draw your attention to the fact that everything that is described in the tour program is included in the price.ExploreArmenia.am

The program of the excursion trip trough Armenia and Georgia (8 days/7 nights)

Day 1

Arrival in Yerevan

Arrival in Yerevan. Transfer to the hotel. Accommodation.

Day 2

Yerevan - Garni - Geghard - Yerevan

Visit the Institute of Ancient Manuscripts named after St. Mesrop Mashtots - Matenadaran. The most ancient manuscripts are dated back to the 5th century BC and are associated with Mesrop Mashtots, who invented the Armenian alphabet. (Extra charge - $ 3 per person).

Afterwards we visit the pagan temple of Garni, built in the I century by Armenian king Trdat I and dedicated to the god of sun Mihr. According to history, the temple was built on the money of the Roman Emperor Nero. Azat River Gorge is famous for its basaltic pillars - the result of a volcanic lava flow.

Next stop is Gegard monastery complex (IV century), which is included in the list of World Cultural Heritage by the UNESCO. Its full name is Gegardavank, literally it is translated as "Monastery of the spear." The name of the monastery complex comes from Christ Spear (Spear of Longinus), which the Roman soldier Longinus thrust in Jesus Christ. The spear is now kept in the museum of Echmiadzin Cathedral.

Back to Yerevan.

Day 3

Yerevan - Sevan - Dilijan - Tbilisi

After breakfast, we continue the tour to the pearl of Armenia - blue Sevan. Lake Sevan is a freshwater lake in the Armenian highlands. It is the largest lake in the Caucasus. It is guaranteed to be the largest source of fresh water in the region. We will also visit the Sevanavanq - a monastery in the north-west coast of Lake Sevan. The monastery is located on a peninsula, which was once a small island.

We continue our tour to Tavush region of Armenia – to a small town of Dilijan, located on the picturesque banks of the river Aghstev.

The next stop will be Haghartsin Monastery, which was built in the X-XIII centuries, mostly under the auspices of the Bagratuni Dynasty. We will also visit Goshavank - monastery complex, built in XII-XIII centuries in the village of Gosh in Armenia. Goshavank is the cultural, educational and religious center of medieval Armenia. The sources referred to it as a seminary, university, and so on.

Trip to Tbilisi.

Hotel accommodation.

Day 4

Tour in Tbilisi - Mtskheta - Jvari - Tbilisi

After breakfast we will start from exploring Tbilisi. Tbilisi is a capital of Georgia and the largest city, located on the banks of the Kura River with a population of over 1 and half million people. The city was founded in the fifth sencyry.

Then we will visit picturesque town Mtskheta. This town was the first capital of Georgia from III century BC up to the 5th century AD.

We will begin our tour visiting cathedral - Svetitskhoveli (11th century), which has been the main cathedral of Georgia for long centuries. Continuing out tour we will rise on a mountain to the Monastery of Jvari, where you will amazed with mignificent view of the confluence of the Aragvi and Kura rivers opens.

Day 5

Tbilisi - Sighnakhi - Bodbe Monastery - Tbilisi

After Breakfast you will visit beautiful town Sighnakhi, which sometimes called city of lovers. We will rise to the Medieval fortress, which surrounds the old part of the city. From the side of watchtower opens beautiful view on Alazanian valley.

Then we will visit Bodbe monastery, where located the grave of St Nino preacher. Per request it is possible to descent pilgrimage to the Source of Saint Nino (650 steps) and collect water.

Return to Tbilisi.

A free evening.

Day 6

Tbilisi - Sanahin - Haghpat - Yerevan

The morning begins with a trip to Lori region of Armenia. We visit the village of Sanahin, where the monument of Armenian architecture, the church complex of X-XIII centuries is located. Since 1996 Sanahin Monastery has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

We continue the trip and visit Haghpat monastery, which is located on the south-eastern part of the village Haghpat. It was founded in 976 during the reign of Ashot Bagratuni. Haghpat was one of the most important spiritual and cultural centers. In 1996 it was included in the UNESCO World Heritage list.

Return to Yerevan.

Hotel accommodation.

Day 7

Yerevan - Khor Virap - Areni - Noravanq - Yerevan

After breakfast, we go to the Armenian monastery of Khor Virap, situated at the foot of Mount Ararat, near the border with Turkey. It is a place of pilgrimage, which is connected with the legend of Gregory the Illuminator (Grigor the Illuminator). According to church tradition, Gregory was imprisoned on the orders of King Trdat III, caught in that he professes Christianity, and was held there for 13years. Those interested can go down to the prison, which has a depth of 6 m and a diameter of 4.4 m.

Right in front of you, very, very close and in all its beauty you will see the symbol of Armenia - Mount Ararat.

Next stop is Noravank monasterycomplex, built in XIII-XIV centuries, which is located 1.5 kilometers east to the village of Areni. The complex is located on a narrow ledge winding gorge tributary of the Arpa River. The gorge is famous for its steep red cliffs, towering behind the monastery.

Return to Yerevan.

Day 8

Yerevan - Echmiadzin - Zvartnots temple - Airport

After breakfast, we visit the center of Yerevan – the Republic Square. The area is famous for its monumental architecture in a deeply traditional style. All the buildings on the Republic Square are made of tufa, and the lower parts are made of basalt. Building facades are faced with felsic tuff of white and pink colors.

Here is the country's main museum - the Museum of History of Armenia. The museum has collected about 400,000 exhibits. The museum exposition is divided into several departments: archaeological, ethnographic, numismatic department, historic architecture department, and the Department of Modern and Contemporary history of Armenia.

If you wish we will visit Yerevan Brandy Factory, where we have a fascinating tour with tasting of 2 types of brandies (a three-year old "Ararat" and a ten-year old "Akhtamar"). (Extra charge - $ 10 per person).

Next we visit the city of Echmiadzin - the center of the Armenian Gregorian Church, where the residence of the Catholicos is located. We will visit Echmiadzin Cathedral (301-483 AD), which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage list, the museum.

We visit the ruins of Zvartnots temple, which was destroyed in the earthquake. In 2000, the ruins of the temple and the archaeological area around it are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Transfer to the airport.

Armenia is a country to fall in love with!

Attention!

The time and the order of the excursions declared in the program are subject to change. The excursion program of the first and the last days will depend on your arrival and departure time, and the days of the week. Please note that Monday is a day off in Armenia's museums.

Tour price includes:

airport-hotel-airport transfers;

accommodation in a 3 * hotel with breakfast

comfortable transport service;

accompanying guide service throughout the tour;

entrance tickets to the historical and cultural centers;

tourist support service over the phone.

Tour price does not include:

airline tickets;

an entry visa (if required);

alcoholic beverages (other than those specified in the tour program);

medical insurance.

Notes:

If you wish you can choose any other hotel in Armenia. Also possible to stay at a hostel or private flat (you should arrange that with the manager). The price of the tour will be reconsidered.

Statements about Armenia

«Every European, every man should visit Armenia, if for a day, to cleanse himself under the clouds of spirituality. In Armenia, time creates the space, and he who visits Armenia becomes Armenian, if only bit. I feel that my visit to Armenia initiated my travel upwards. My travel up to the sky.»